Printing machines



April 1961 J. R. LEVIEN 2,981,181

PRINTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 14, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JACK R. LEVIEN ATTORNEY April 1961 J. R. LEVIEN 2,981,181

PRINTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 14, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. .3

8 Teefh 24 Teeth p ZTeeth 24 Teeth 24 Teeth INVENTOR JACK R. LEVIEN ATTORNEY April 1961 J. R. LEVIEN 2,981,181

PRINTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 14, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR R LEVIEN ATTORNEY United States My invention consists in a new and useful. improvement in printing machines for off-set printing. The peculiarly new and useful feature of my improved machine is the combination of a printing cylinder which has a plurality of sets of type wheels whereby a plurality of lines of type can be set up, and an off-set cylinder to receive impressions of the lines of type. The particularly novel feature of the machine is the intermeshing gears on the two cylinders which are so designed that each rotation of the printing cylinder causes a plurality of rotations of the off-set cylinder so that the impressions of the lines of type are made upon the offset cylinder on its several rotations, respectively. The positions of the several lines of type on the printing cylinder are so determined that the impressions made thereby are properly spaced on the off-set cylinder.

The parts are so related that, following the rotation of the off-set cylinder for the impression thereon of the last line of type, the off-set cylinder is rotated to transfer the series of impressions to a sheet of paper which is fed, at the proper time, to the off-set cylinder by conventional feeding mechanism. a

A modified form of my machine produces a plurality of copies of the sets of impressions on the off-set cylinder, the rotation of the off-set cylinder for printing upon the paper occurring after completion of the plurality of copies on the off-set cylinder.

While my machine can utilize the conventional impression cylinder for pressing the paper uponthe off-set cylinder, I have designed a modified form of my machine which eliminates the impression cylinder by use of a blanket on the printing cylinder, the paper being fed between the printing cylinder and the off-set cylinder. This blanket is composed of a suitable material, such as Teflon, which has the characteristic of non-adherence of printing ink thereto.

' While I illustrate in the drawings and hereinafter fully describe several embodiments of my invention, it is to be distinctly understood that I do not consider my invention' to be limited to said embodiments but refer for its scope to the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings;

Fig. l is a side elevation of the machine, the inking rollers being omitted.

' Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of the machine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, side elevation of one of the type wheels.

Fig. 5 is a specimen of the printed work.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form of the machine, the parts being positioned to print a line of type on the off-set cylinder.

Fig. 7- is a view similar to Fig. 6, the parts being positioned to print the line of type on the paper.

As shown in the drawings, my improved printing machine comprises (Figs. 1 and 2) a printing cylinder 22 of Fig. 1,

atent Q 2,981,181 Patented Apr. 25, 1961 P, an off-set cylinder 0 and an impression cylinder I. The cylinders P, O and I are mounted on shafts P-l,

0-1 and I-1, respectively, suitably journaled in a con-.

ventional frame F suitably mounted upon a stable base S.

It will be noted (Fig. 1) that the cylinders P and I have the same diameter and that the cylinder 0 has a diameter A1. of the diameter of P and I. As shown 1n the drawings (Fig. 1), the cylinders P, Q and I are connected by intermeshing gears P-2, O-2 and I-2. For the purpose of illustration, it will be assumed that the gears P-2 and I-2 have 96 teeth and that the gear O-2 has 24 teeth. Hence, it is obvious that, when the cylinder P is rotated clock-wise (Fig. 2) by means of the pulley P3 on the shaft P-1 driven by any suitable means (not shown), the cylinder 0 is caused to rotate four times for each rotation of the cylinder P, and the cylinder I is rotated once for each rotation of the cylinder P.

The cylinder P comprises three sections A, B and C (Fig. 1). Section B (Fig. 2) is provided with three cylindrical recesses B-l, B-2 and 3-3. In each recess there is mounted a set of type wheels W. Since these sets are identical, a description of the one in recess B-l will suffice. The. set is rotatably mounted upon a cylindrical drum D (Fig. 4) having a square central bore D-1 longitudinally thereof, through which passes an axle D-Z square in cross-section and mounted in square bores in the ends of section B at the sides of the recess B-l, to fix the drum D non-rotatably in the recess B-l.

Each type wheel W has on its outer periphery a suitable number of type character W-l projecting outwardly of the wheel W, and on its inner periphery a. corresponding number of arcuate sockets W-2. The drum D is provided with spring-pressed ball catches W-3 corresponding in number with the sockets W-2, to 'hold the wheel W in adjusted positions.

It will be seen (Fig. 2) that the parts are so dimensioned and related that the faces of the type characters W-I project beyond the periphery of the section B to a degree sufiicient to be impressed upon the surfaceof the off-set cylinder 0.

It is obvious that the type wheels W can be rotated about the drum D, by any suitable means (not shown) inserted into the recess B4, to be so adjusted that a line of type can be set up. 1

When the section B has been provided with its three sets of type wheels .W, sections A and C are fixed on section B by longitudinal, headed bolts A-1 and A-2 passed through smooth bores'in sections A and B and set up in threaded bores in section C, and by a longitudinal, headed bolt C-1 passed through smooth bores in sections B and C and setup in a threaded bore in section The sections A, B and C of the cylinder P having been thus assembled, the cylinder P is then non-rotatably mounted on its shaft P-1 with a key P-4.

My machine is provided with the conventional inking rollers N whereby the set up lines of type are properly inked.

The impression cylinder I is provided on one quadrant with the usual blanket M.

My machine is provided with the conventional paper feeding mechanism (not shown) whereby the sheets of paper are caused to move in the path of travel indicated by the broken line L (Fig. 2) between the cylinder 0 the inking rollers N. When the inked line of type a is impressed upon the ofi-set cylinder 0, the impression a-l of that line is made on the cylinder in the usual manner. Rotation of cylinder P through .one quadrant of its circumference causes the first rotation of cylinder 0 returning the first impressed line a-i to the point of im pression. Since the second inked line of type b is disposed beyond the beginning of the second quadrant of the circumference of the cylinder P, on the second rotation of the cylinder 0 the inked line of type b makes the irnpression b-1 on the olf-set cylinder 0 in spaced relation to the first impressed line a-l, the distance being determined by the spacing of the second line of type b beyond the beginning of said second quadrant. Since the third inked line of type c is disposed sufficiently beyond the beginning of the third quadrant of the circumference of the cylinder 0 the inked line of type b makes the imthe line of type c makes the impression 0-1 on the cylinder 0 in spaced relation to the second impressed line b-l, and again the distance is determined by the spacing of the third line of type 0 beyond the beginning of said third quadrant.

At precisely the moment when the cylinder P moves its third quadrant off of the cylinder 0, all three lines having been impressed upon the cylinder 0, the feed mechanism projects a sheet of paper along the path of travel indicated by the broken line L (Fig. 2) to be re-' ceived between the olf-set cylinder 0 and the blanket M on the impression cylinder I which presses the paper against the cylinder 0, and the fourth rotation of the cylinder O caused by rotation of the fourth quadrant of the cylinder P causes the. cylinder 0 to print the three lines a-2, b-2 and 0-2. upon the paper (Fig.

If desired, a selected design X (Fig. 5) can be printed on the paper by removably mounting in a recess in the face of the cylinder P a plate having thereon the necessary type for impressing the design upon the cylinder 0 and thence on the paper. Obviously the plate is so disposed that the face of type thereon is inked by the inking rollers N and impressed upon the off-set cylinder 0.

A modified form of my machine is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3. This form is designed to imprint three lines of type upon the off-set cylinder 0 three times, and then print the nine lines of impressions on the paper on one rotation of the off-set cylinder 0.

For illustration, in this form of the machine, the printing cylinder P has 104 teeth on its gear and the off-set cylinder 0 has 24 teeth on its gear. The 104 teeth are disposed in five groups, viz, 24 teeth between termini of radii 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 3 and 4- and 4 and 5, and eight teeth between termini of radii 1 and 5. The first line of type 6 is disposed at the terminus of the radius 1. The second line of type 7 is disposed two teeth beyond the terminus of radius 2. The third line of type 8 is disposed 4 teeth beyond the terminus of radius 3. It is to be understood that the lines 6, 7 and 8 and the inking rollers N are the same as above described.

The impressions 6-a, 7-11 and 8-0 on the off-set cylinder 0' are produced as above described, on three rotations of the cylinder 0. It will be seen that between the line of type 8 and the line of type 6 there are on the circumfer ence of the cylinder P 52 teeth computed as follows: 24 minus 4 equal plus 24 plus S'equal 52. Since the cylinder 0 has 24 teeth, these 52 teeth on cylinder P cause the cylinder 0 to rotate twice (48 teeth on P) after the impression 8a has been made and then travel 4 teeth (total 52) to be positioned for the line of type 6 to make the impression 6J2, the line of type 7 to make the impression, 7b and the line of type. 8 to make the impression 8-b. The process is repeated to make the impressions 6-0, 7-0 and 8-c.

' At precisely the moment when cylinder 0' has completed its rotation for the impression 8-c, all nine impressions having been made on cylinder 0' (Fig. 3), the feed mechanism supplies a sheet of paper to the blanket cylinder 0 between those for im ressing the sets of three lines provide the desired spacing between the sets.

Another modified form of my machine is shown diagrammatically in Figs. 6 and 7. This form is designed to eliminate the impression cylinder I and its blanket M. Their function, viz. to press the paper on the ofi-set cylinder C, is performed by a blanket M-l mounted upon one quadrant of the circumference of the printing cylinder P, which causes the fourth rotation of the off-set cylinder 0 to print upon the paper the impressions of the three lines of type made on the oif-set cylinder by the three rotations of the cylinder 0 by the first three quadrants of the circumference of the printing cylinder P.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, this form functions as the form of Figs; 1 and 2 to produce the impressions 11-1, 12-1 and 0-1 upon the off-set cylinder 0. The blanket M4, applied to quadrant No. .4 of the circumference of the'printing cylinder P, projecting from the cylinder P substantially the same amount as the lines of type a, b and 0, serves to press the paper upon the cylinder 0.

It is to be understood, as above explained, that the feed mechanism projects a sheet of paper along the path of travel indicated by the broken line L-l (Fig. 7) to be received between the off-set cylinder 0 and the blanket M-i on the printing cylinder P which presses the paper against the cylinder 0 during the fourth rotation of the cylinder 0.

It will be noted particularly that, as the blanket M-l projects from the cylinder P substantially the same amount as the three lines of type a, b and c, it is contacted by the inking rollers N. However, such contact does not cause any deposit of ink upon the blanket M-l, since the material of which the blanket M-1 is composed has such a character that the ink is non-adherent thereto. Any suitable material, such as Teflon, can serve this purpose.

it will be noted (Figs. 6 and 7) that the elimination of the impression cylinder so exposesthe off-set cylinder as to make possible the use of wash-up and wipe-pp rolls or strips for cleaning the oif-set cylinder 0'.

When the ink used has magnetic particles, a system of magnets can be provided to remove these particles from the oif-set cylinder 0' when it is wet.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a printing machine, the combination of a rotatable printing cylinder having a peripheral set of gear teeth; a plurality of sets of type wheels symmetrically disposed about the axis of said cylinder, each of said sets being adapted to be set up to form a line of type projecting from the periphery of said cylinder, said lines being symmetrically disposed on the circumference of said cylinder; and a rotatable oif-set cylinder having a peripheral set of gear teeth intermeshing with the teeth on said printing cylinder, said off-set cylinder being so disposed relative said printing cylinder that said lines of type produce impressions which are symmetrically disposed on the circumference of said off-set cylinder when both cylinders are rotated, the numbers of gear teeth of said sets being such that each rotation of said printing cylinder causes a plurality of rotations of said off-set cylinder, and said lines of type being in such a plurality of positions that they are caused to produce a corresponding number of spaced impressions on said off-set cylinder by a corresponding number of rotations of said off-set cylinder, ali of said impressions being imprinted on a sheet of paper fed to said off-set cylinder, on completion of said impressions, by a single rotation of said ofi-set cylinder.

2. In a printing machine, the combination of a rotatable printing cylinder; means on said cylinder adapted to produce three lines of type symmetrically disposed on the circumference of said cylinder; a rotatable off-set cylinder so disposed relative said. printing cylinder that said lines of type produce three lines of impressions symmetrically disposed on the circumference of said oif-set cylinder, said cylinders being connected by intermeshing gears which cause four rotations of said oft-set cylinder during one rotation of said printing cylinder, and said lines of type being so positioned on said printing cylinder as to produce said three lines of impressions on three rotations of said ofi-set cylinder, respectively; and a rotatable blanket mounted adjacent said off-set cylinder, adapted to press a sheet of paper on said off-set cylinder on the fourth rotation of said ofi-set cylinder, to imprint said three lines of impressions on said paper.

3. A machine, according to claim 1, in which said printing cylinder comprises three separable co-axial sections connected by removable bolts, one of said sections has a plurality of cylindrical recesses disposed symmetrically about the axis of said section, and said sets of type wheels are rotatably mounted in said recesses respectively.

4. A machine, according to claim 1, in which said numbers of gear teeth of said sets on said printing cylinder and said off-set cylinder, respectively, are such that a plurality of series of impressions are produced on said off-set cylinder.

5. A machine, according to claim 1, in which a blanket is mounted upon the surface of said printing cylinder, projecting therefrom suifliciently to engage the surface of said off-set cylinder and press upon said oiT-set cylinder the sheet of paper fed thereto, said blanket being composed of a material of such character that printing ink is non-adherent thereto.

6. A machine, according to claim 2, having an impression cylinder rotated synchronously with said printing cylinder, said blanket being mounted on said impression cylinder.

7. A machine, according to claim 2, in which said blanket is mounted upon the surface of said printing cylinder, and is composed of a material of such character that printing ink is non-adherent thereto.

8. A machine, according to claim 2, in which said intermeshing gears are such as to cause the three lines of type to produce three sets of impressions on said ofi-set cylinder, each of said sets having said three lines of impres- 810118.

'9. A machine, according to claim 2, in which said printing cylinder has a recess in its surface, a plate is removably mounted in said recess, and type on said plate projects sufiiciently from said surface of said cylinder as to produce impressions on said off-set cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,797,354 Marquardt Mar. 24, 1931 1,976,714 Chisholm Oct. 16, 1934 2,159,957 Ormond May 23, 1939 2,302,058 Robbins et a1 Nov. 17, 1942 2,374,668 Davidson May 1, 1945 2,660,111 Herrick et al. Nov. 24, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 676,409 Germany June 3, 1939 

